historical-sites &laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feedhttp://en.wordpress.com/tag/historical-sites/
Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "historical-sites"Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:50:49 +0000http://en.wordpress.com/tags/enhttps://aheartmadeforwonder.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/anzac-explorations/
Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:10:30 +0000emmajulieannewyliehttps://aheartmadeforwonder.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/anzac-explorations/While I was in Deauville, I was lucky enough to be invited out by some of Dads friends/clients to join in on their guided tour exploring the important World War Two historical sites in the surrounding area.

Not only was the content in itself fascinating, but these gentlemen were absolutely lovely – and fascinating in themselves as highly successful in their respective fields, and very entertaining Australians! We were lucky enough to have a brilliant tour guide who was also our driver, a Frenchman with a huge wealth of historical knowledge but who was also more than happy to pause the tour to search for a pub playing the Australia/ NZ rugby game (making for much happier tourists!)(although eventually it was a fruitless search, the guys had to settle for update texts from home).

In terms of the actual explorations though… 5months later my mind is still blown at the memory.

We started out at the ‘Pointe du Hoc’ Memorial area, on an absolutely beautiful summers day in Normandy.. And as you walk out towards the memorial, you are flanked by the seemingly never-ending line of pictures and stories of those troops who lost their lives there. Then you break past the trees, and in the distance is the stunningly turquoise water of the English Channel, made even more pronounced by the bright blue skies overhead. And because it is all so beautiful, it takes a little while for what you are actually seeing to sink in.

The ground ahead of you, although lush and green, and speckled with daisies… is strewn with the remains of ruined bunkers. And then you look closer at the undulating hills and see them for what they are, cavernous holes gauged out of the earth by shelling attacks. The topography of this land has been left exactly as it was after those D-Day landings. And the contrast between the beauty of the area and the immense destructive force it must have taken to create a crater that large is almost incomprehensible.

So it is in a state of almost awe that we make our way through the field, heading towards the memorial.

But awe is not the right word, humbled reverence does not quite make it either…

There is something in the way the remnants of the trials faced right where we stood, which had such a profound impact on the direction of our lives, and yet rest so far beyond our understanding, that makes the feeling induced hard to describe.

And this was to be the general sentiment which followed me throughout the day, as we traversed the various sites such as Omaha Beach, Longues-sur-Mer Gun battery, and the Normandy American Cemetery. Again and again overwhelmed by the immense sacrifice and bravery of the troops, yet struggling to comprehend and somehow disconcerted by the beauty of the surroundings.

Maybe the following pictures will give you an inkling of what I mean.

Em

x

The dissonance of beauty

Pointe du Hoc in the distance

The view from within

Pointe du Hoc.

A memorial at the Normandy American cemetery

Peter at the American cemetery

Overlooking the Landing Beaches

These were the ones that broke my heart the most.

The crosses stretch out in every direction..

Ruins of a bunker at Longues-sur-Mer

Despite the gravity, I can’t help but notice the face in this cannon..

Can you even imagine trying to scan the horizon through this??

Orange poppies among the barley

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Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:16:21 +0000vagabondurgeshttps://vagabondurges.com/2015/01/08/guest-post-the-killing-fields/https://kkoreto.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/enterprise/
Thu, 08 Jan 2015 06:51:03 +0000kkoretohttps://kkoreto.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/enterprise/This post is late because I discovered that I could play Oregon Trail online for free. That occupied a lot of my attention until I had some pizza and soda in me. The pizza was from the Mellow Mushroom and it was surprisingly good. I am a New Yorker, and therefore a bit of a pizza snob.

I feel like I need to first explain why we visited Enterprise, Alabama. It all started a few years ago in Martha’s Vineyard. I found a bill that had a where’s george stamp on it. wheresgeorge.com is a website where you can track bills online using their serial numbers.

Anyway, so I entered this bill and found that the bill was from Enterprise, Alabama. Curious, I googled Enterprise, and boy was I not disappointed.

Enterprise has the only statue dedicated to a pest. When Sophie and I learned about Enterprise, it became a running joke that we were going to visit Enterprise and see the bow weevil statue. When we were planning this trip, Enterprise was the first on my list.

In the early 1900s, the bow weevil came up from Mexico to Alabama. The bow weevils destroyed the cotton crops, and the farmers were facing bankruptcy. Someone (I have the brochure, if anyone is interested) suggested growing peanuts, and using that idea, the farmers prospered. The statue was built as a way to memorialize the pest who actually strengthened their economy. They had a lot of owe the bow weevil. It seems to me very American. The Enterpriseans(?) overcame an obstacle using ingenuity and hard work.

The best part of Enterprise without a doubt was the man at the gift shop. It was a tiny gift shop that was small and musty. The man running it had a thick Southern accent. He seemed very impressed we were from New York. Sophie and I started ti ask about Enterprise, and the man at the gift shop talked about the industries in Enterprise. There are some factories, and the airbase nearby that contribute a lot. A lot of people from the air base settle in Enterprise when they retire. Gift shop man was born and raised in Enterprise, and you could tell that he was proud of Enterprise. The man was adorable, and it was a treat to talk to him.

The second-best part was the actually statue itself, which was as fabulous as I thought it would be. Sophie and I also did a walking tour of Enterprise, and learned a lot about Enterprise.

I included the photo of the statue last because I want to build your suspense.

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Tue, 06 Jan 2015 00:45:09 +0000wisemonkeysabroadhttps://wisemonkeysabroad.com/2015/01/06/top-5-unexpected-travel-gems/With the New Year almost a week in, we are back to regular blogging again. We had a festive/silly season break and it feels good to be back.

Towards the end of last year, we wrote a piece about our most disappointing travel sites and to introduce this year, we are sharing our top 5 unexpected travel highlights – places which we fell in love but hadn’t expected to.

In a world where information is so readily at our fingertips and the internet can reveal so much about a place – we avoid “researching” too much into a place we want to visit. We look for inspiration, we read about safety and basic introductory information, but we don’t read or look at everything we can about the place because we find that creates expectation and takes away some of the “unknown”. We tend to like the element of surprise. And these are our top 5 unexpected travel gems.

(5) Pingyao

Enter through the gates of Pingyao and we were transported back to centuries ago. There are no cars inside, it is all pedestrian and bicycles. Chinese history is oozing out of the walls and rooftops of this city and we LOVED it. It was our most favourite city during our time in China. As we walk along the alleyways and admire the well-preserved architecture, the only giveaway that we are in the 21st Century are the tourist shops.

(4) Lyon

Before arriving in Lyon, we did little research as we were using it more as a stopover before we headed into Switzerland, not expecting to be so blown away by it. The history and its Roman past had us fascinated for hours. We have written only about a couple of the places we visited in Lyon; the Museum of Miniatures and Cinema and the street murals. There is so much there to see and still more we are yet to share about our time in Lyon. Do yourself a favour and add it to your list for next time you are in France.

(3) Pergamum

When it comes to anything history, we love it! Visiting ancient ruins is one of our favourite things to do when travelling. Whilst travelling through Turkey, there are a LOT of ancient ruins to the point of possibly being fatigued by them. But there is no fatigue when it comes to riding a cable car and then exploring the ruins of Pergamum. The views from the top are just unbelievable across the countryside. What we found to be the biggest treat was walking amongst the columns and stones and remnants of life from thousands of years ago.

(2) Tasmania

Often left off maps and forgotten as belonging to Australia, it is one of the places in the world where we want to come back to as soon as we have left. There is just something about it that makes us just want more. There is delicious, fresh local food! There is jaw-dropping stunning scenery. There is an abundance of wildlife and there is a touch of history. Whoever comes to Australia and doesn’t put Tassie on their list is crazy!!

(1) Weliczka Salt Mines

Hands up if you thought “salt mines? – how special can they be?” We knew they were UNESCO Heritage, we knew they were important and a must-see. We knew about the history behind it but we were NOT by any means expecting to see what we saw. Climbing into a 3-storey shaft lift was only the beginning of one of THE MOST incredible places we have visited. An underground city, quite literally, that was carved out of salt.

We love having these surprises so we try not to look at too many photos of a place just before we visit!

Now it’s your turn! We would love to hear about places that you didn’t expect to be so AWESOME :)

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Sun, 04 Jan 2015 23:35:47 +0000urbanprimatehttps://whogivesamonkeys.com/2015/01/04/ruins-marrakech/The order for the day was historical sites. We headed off towards the pedestrian rue of Bab Agnaou passing the high, foreboding and very pink Palace walls. The Gate of Gnawa as it is known locally was named after the black slaves brought from sub-Saharan Africa. It is beautiful. The piece has been weatherbeaten to perfection in my opinion and the gate is the only stone structure in an otherwise mud brick city.

Passing through the archway the Kasbah mosque is a short walk away and around the corner is the Saadian Tombs – the holy resting place for Saadian sultans. Like everywhere in this place nothing is sign posted and what looks like road names on the sides of walls could be absolutely anything.

It’s no wonder then that the discovery of the tombs was only about 80 years, for a long time it lay hidden. Now it is one of the most visited sites in Marrakech. The “Hall” itself is the main attraction and has 12 marble pillars surrounding the sultans and his family’s tombs. The interior walls are very ornate and the workmanship is intricate. It reminds me of the work that I saw in India. Outside in the courtyard mosaic graves are dotted throughout the garden not too dis-similar to a churchyard, but a wee bit prettier. The queue to see inside the hall is long and I was somewhat disappointed that after

all that queuing you get all of about one full minute at the front of the entrance to view it.

Badii Palace is well worth a trip. We must have spent a good few hours soaking up the atmosphere and pounding the grounds. The sheer size of the walls are impressive as are the thickness. The palace has an open plaza with a huge water feature in the middle of it. Then at the far back there is the Koutoubia Mosque minibar. Sadly it is not what you think, it is actually a pulpit, but the name is hilarious especially in a place like Morocco where alcohol is harder to find than a tiger in the wild!

After eating, the rest of the day was pretty much spent getting lost. We planned to buy our bus tickets for the start of the week. We were heading into the Atlas Mountains and knew it would be late Sunday by the time we got back. I’m off for a desert safari and the actress is headed to the coast – except the bus station we went to wasn’t the right one for the buses we needed and we had to get those bus tickets at the train station. Of course!! Needless to say we were exhausted come evening after a two hour detour on foot and being sent on a wild goose-chase by various twats, so we decided to eat local come nightfall. And by local I mean we braved the night market.

The food was great, the place is bedlam and you have to embrace the spirit of madness to get the full experience. And just for the record neither of us got sick!!

]]>https://museumingpirok.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/what-we-can-learn-from-historical-homes-the-tiny-house-movement-and-the-historical-home/
Wed, 31 Dec 2014 15:20:01 +0000apirok1188https://museumingpirok.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/what-we-can-learn-from-historical-homes-the-tiny-house-movement-and-the-historical-home/Those who know me, know I love small homes. I like small spaces because it forces human contact; you are either living on top of your spouse or you leave you house a lot more. Which brings me to the second reason to love tiny homes: your housing costs will drop, you can afford to go out. The cost to heat and cool a home that is less than 1,000 square feet it is much cheaper than the usual American 4k square foot behemoth. The building cost, land rental, cleaning cost, upkeep all drop, not to mention that you can’t buy more stuff than your house and shed can hold. It forces you into a cheaper way of living and makes you to think about your purchases in terms of what you need and what you want, and why. It is a great self-reflection. The third reason to love a tiny home is thoughtful construction. Because construction companies are slow to pick up the tiny house movement many people are building their own homes. This means they are given the opportunity to put thought into home construction. I have been in many homes, in real life and virtually (thank you Zillow.com) that are basically boxes filled with boxes, filled with crap, and I have also been in 18th century homes that are constructed to let the most light in and to keep homes cool without air conditioning. The tiny house movement gives people the opportunity to think about how their home works, how it functions within the environment and their lives. This leads us to reason four, environmental sustainability. If more people began building with n their and the environment’s means, and living within those means we can begin seriously walking down the path of environmentally sustainability.

Tumbleweed is one of my favorite tiny house builders. They encourage creativity and offer classes. This is there “Cypress” model.from: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com

While reason 1 & 2 are great, today I am going to talk about reason 3 “thoughtful construction” (& eventually #4) and how historical homes can help develop the tiny house movement and put us on a path to sustainably. When house museums began popping up across the country in the late 19th and early 20th c they had two basic goals, first to function as a shrine to X or Y historical person and second to illustrate the life styles (in a strictly material sense) of the colonial and antebellum elite. Today, as my previous post called for, we need new and innovative ways to narrate house museums. One of those ways is by developing an educational program that focuses on the possibility of building contemporary homes in the same fashion. This is not a call for a revival of colonial-revival, I am calling for something much more structural, “walls not wall paper”. Now, accepting the fact that we cannot make contemporary homes out of the same materials due to climate change and unfixable damage we have done to the environment, we can still learn to adopt 18th century practices for today’s use.

Anecdotes:
#1
2 years ago I joined my professor on a field trip with his Archaeology field school students in Maryland. As the sun became unbearable we eventually took refuge in recreated ordinary. While there we had the pleasure of hearing a number of tour guides come through and explain the site to fussy and excitable school children, as they left, group by group, we discussed how each narrative was different, how each tour guide employed different objects in the ordinary to tell various details from the same master narrative, which was essential “What is an ordinary?.” After a while we realized that each narrative made the ordinary sound barbaric and impossible for contemporary people to handle. “Not, true!” we thought, it is this ostracizing of the past that we are so use to in our “progressive” focus narrative that allows us to forget or ignore the valuable lessons from the past.

#2
Less than two years ago I read an article with my professor and a young visiting professor by Mark Levin. Levin asked historians how they would function at the end of times. My professor brought up the idea that historical sites can teach people things they can then use in their lives; telling us a story about his French buddies learning how to make a lathe that they then implemented on their property. After a spell the young professor asked if this was cultural appropriation. The answer is no, it is not cultural appropriation in the way that young women at electronic music concerts wear feather head dresses and take peyote. Adopting the information at a historical site, like how to build a lathe or a how to build a home that works within the environment, does not necessitate that you believe you are becoming closer to or gaining a better understanding of that culture. You can understand the logic and utility of the thing (for lack of a better word), but your understanding of its necessity will be slightly different than an 18thc person.

What can be done?

1#: In Virginia on the Battle of Wilderness site there is a home called “Historic Elwood.” This house museum is one of my favorites, (its wall paper is my background), it is lovely, it is informative, it talks about slaves and recognizes that they we skilled craftsmen and it has a cutaway wall that exposes what the house is made of! We need more of this, guests are tried of seeing perfectly recreated interior décor (I like it, but there is more than can be done), it is time historical homes talk more about their construction; the material, the processes and the home’s upkeep. Naturally this will be a narrative that focuses on the work of slaves, I believe there is great value in celebrating the craftsmanship of enslaved peoples. Yes, slavery is awful, soul destroying, and wrong, but we do not need to ignore the skill and art created by these enslaved people (& lets be real, what was NOT a product of slavery in our slave society?). If we talk about the houses in terms of their construction and upkeep and speak truthfully about how it can be recreated today, the historical house museums becomes a place of inspiration for the diy tiny home builder and sustainability conscious person. Why not host a tiny-home build, (Many of them are on wheels now-a-days), invite interested parties to learn about how 18thc home construction can influence contemporary builders beyond wall paper and color schemes.

#2 Build your site.
It is not uncommon for historical sites to have an archaeological excavation to find the location of old buildings and homes, and it is not uncommon for them to build a recreation of the home on the same or adjacent site, and it is not my original idea to build the house in the same manor it was when first built, by costumed professionals. At (beloved) Kenmore, they had painters paint the walls with period paint in the period style, very cool. There is an idea to have costumed builders construct historical homes with the same idea in mind, which is great, but I want to add a bit more Bob Vila to the mix. I would like to turn this into a learning experience, (admittedly, hands-on might get too dangerous) but there is a value in having the builders, historians, historical architects, and archaeologists make themselves available to discuss the build with idea that is it doable today in mind.

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Mon, 29 Dec 2014 12:00:50 +0000Trinityhttps://historyundusted.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/pietre-dure-eternal-paintings/https://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/a-bite-at-the-oregon-caves-chateau/
Sun, 28 Dec 2014 00:50:43 +0000wineandhistoryhttps://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/a-bite-at-the-oregon-caves-chateau/https://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/26/a-real-cave-tour/
Fri, 26 Dec 2014 20:08:33 +0000wineandhistoryhttps://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/26/a-real-cave-tour/https://findingafocus.wordpress.com/2014/12/23/reculver-in-grey/
Tue, 23 Dec 2014 21:07:11 +0000Cazhttps://findingafocus.wordpress.com/2014/12/23/reculver-in-grey/https://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/oregon-caves-national-monument-a-rare-marble-cave/
Sun, 21 Dec 2014 05:37:51 +0000wineandhistoryhttps://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/oregon-caves-national-monument-a-rare-marble-cave/https://seekopenskies.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/the-historic-charm-of-old-town-alexandria-virginia/
Fri, 19 Dec 2014 20:03:15 +0000Jen the Artisthttps://seekopenskies.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/the-historic-charm-of-old-town-alexandria-virginia/It is difficult not to lose your sense of time as you stroll the brick walkways of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Even though the town’s main road, King Street, is now lined with endless modern shops and restaurants, stories dating as far back as 1749 remain preserved in it’s historic buildings. You can almost see the tales of George Washington and other predominant figures unfolding along the cobblestone streets and scattered gas-burning lanterns.

The Ramsay House

The Ramsay House

For those looking to soak up all the history this charming port city has to offer, I highly recommend starting at the oldest house in Alexandria, the Ramsay House, which now serves as the town’s visitor center. From there you can pick up a map of historical sites for your stroll or catch one of the guided tours that are offered–I took the ghost tour around Halloween and was very pleased. The city also offers several resources, including a dial-in historical tour via your cell phone, for free.

The Carlyle House

The Carlyle House

Next we go from the oldest house in the city to the only house in Old Town with a front yard, The Carlyle House. The home was built by John Carlyle, a Scottish merchant and friend of George Washington, prior to the city’s rule that buildings must abut their front sidewalk. It was used by Major General Edward Braddock and his aide-de-camp, George Washington, as a headquarters building during the French Indian War. Another fun fact about this historical home–there is a cat buried in the walls! Why? It is a Scottish good luck charm believed to provide protection to the home. If these facts have you curious, the Carlyle House offers tours for those wanting to dig deeper into it’s history.

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop

One block up from the Ramsay House is another noteworthy spot, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop. The shop was in operation from 1793 – 1933 and served members of the community, to include George and Martha Washington. Unfortunately, the museum was closed briefly for renovations during my last visit so I did not get the opportunity to tour inside. I learned from the free cell phone tour that the apothecary’s original jars and contents have been preserved, and that it is noted as the largest and most valuable medical collection of its kind! I plan to return and tour the museum soon after it re-opens.

Gadsby’s Tavern

Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant

The last stop I want to highlight is Gadby’s Tavern and Hotel, now a fully operational restaurant and museum. The once hotel, now offers a mouthwatering menu with features like Martha’s Puff Pastry and George Washington’s Favorite, grilled breast of duck, that should clue you in on one of the tavern’s famous guests. Along with George Washington, the tavern’s past presidential visitors include Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and James Monroe. The tavern side of the building, is now the museum which is known to host classic events like ladies tea and ballroom dancing.

Gadsby’s Tavern, “George at here” sign

Gadsby’s Tavern

I hope these sites gave you a peak at why Old Town Alexandria should be on every history buff’s dream list.

Until next Friday, happy wanderlust!

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Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:05:56 +0000glendabrehmhttps://pathstoadventureandpraise.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/cass-scenic-railroad-nostalgia-of-a-logging-town-part-3/Shortly after the tour, the billowing steam and piercing whistle of the Shay engine beckoned us aboard the Western Maryland for our train ride up Back Allegheny Mountain to our destination at Bald Knob.

With only a roof over our head, the rest of the cars were open to the air. We settled into our wooden seats, sat back and soaked up the woodsy scenery. Slowly the steam engine pushed its way up Back Allegheny Mountain, tackling each switchback with ease and skill.

Whitaker Station

Over halfway to the top, we took a break at Whittaker Station, where there was a snack bar and some picnic tables. Nearby, a young couple on their honeymoon waved to us from the red caboose they had rented. Overnight stays in a caboose are also available at Bald Knob. After a brief respite here, we resumed our trip to the top.

Shay Engine Steam

A water tank by the side of the tracks was our last stop before Bald Knob. Here, the conductors filled the large water tank behind the engine before continuing the last leg of our trip.

View from Bald Knob

At Bald Knob the views were spectacular. One on side we could see far into the valley below. On the other side, a trail led to a wilderness cabin which was also available for overnight rental. We ate our boxed lunches at one of the many picnic tables.

Riding through the Woods on the Western Maryland

When afternoon shadows started to appear, it was time to head back down the mountain. On the return trip, we received an unexpected education on the local foliage. A lady who knew all the names of the hardwood trees sat on the other side of my husband. Dan, who has a degree in forestry, drilled her with questions and she was happy to oblige.

West Virginia Countryside

We spent one more night in house #229.

The next morning, to end our Cass adventure, the three of us rented bikes from a local grocery store. We cruised through the Town of Cass, passed our “home” and, after reaching the trailhead, rode six miles, round trip, on the Greenbrier River Trail. This 78-mile trail, located just outside of town, once featured railroad tracks. Long removed, it now functions as a path for bikes and pedestrians. We followed the Greenbrier River through the Monongahela National Forest that was aflame with white, pink, red, purple and yellow wildflowers. Due to time restraints we ended our trip once we reached the three-mile marker. However, my appetite was whetted for more.

The next time I visit Cass, and there will be a next time, I’m going to stay longer, soak up more railroad history and ride the rest of the Greenbrier River Trail.

The Greenbrier River Trail

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Tue, 16 Dec 2014 14:00:19 +0000Meghanhttps://anotherwalkinthepark.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/sutherland-steam-mill-nova-scotia/Just ten miles from the Balmoral Grist Mill is the Sutherland Steam Mill, a lumber mill that operated from 1894 through 1958. The Sutherland Mill was unique for its use of steam power, which allowed more than four times the amount of lumber to be produced as compared with a water-powered mill. Only the basement level functioned to produce lumber however; the first and second floors contained workshops that produced carriages, furniture, gingerbread decorative trim, bathtubs, shingles, and more. The mill was also a place of innovation where time and labor-saving modifications allowed as few as fifteen men to run the basement sawmill and all the machines of the first and second floor. Alexander Sutherland also install other fixes such as fans for creating a vacuum that would suck up sawdust, and barrels of water affixed to the roof that could be overturned in case of fire. Unfortunately I’m writing this blog post about three months after my visit and this, combined with my below-average mechanical knowledge, has resulted in me forgetting many of these neat little shortcuts and inventions. However, I do remember how the basic mechanics of the mill functioned and I did take some notes so I’ll do my best.

In lieu of water generating power, the steam engine at Sutherland was fed from a massive boiler that evaporated water into steam which was forced by pressure into the engine wherein it pushed a piston within a cylinder. This part is a bit fuzzy but some combination of something converts this vertical energy of the piston moving within the cylinder into circular energy that spins a flywheel on which a belt is attached. This main belt then connects to other belts that power individual or groups of machines via drive shafts, the same as in water-powered mills.

View of main and a secondary belt as well as drive shafts on ground floor, Sutherland Steam Mill Museum, Denmark, Nova Scotia, Canada

The mill process started by logs being offloaded onto three braces, where they could be rolled onto the carriage. Once on the carriage, they were clamped and levers would be used to adjust the thickness of the plank by pushing the logs out and away from the back of the carriage. The carriage with the log was then slid toward the blade and the planks would pass through, moved by a splitter wheel. An ingenious adaption I noted here was the use of removable teeth so that the blade itself would not have to be replaced as often. Planks would then pass to a gang saw to be trimmed lengthwise. Standard size framing lumber (10 feet) would pass out the back of the mill to the hopper and into waiting wagons. Wood not being used for framing would go to a workbench where it could be cut to size specifications and passed up to the ground floor. Any scraps and swept-up sawdust would be collected and fed into the boiler.

On the ground floor were standard woodworking machines such as bandsaws, table saw, and lathes, many made on site from recycled parts or adapted from other machines. I got absorbed in this part of the discussion and unfortunately didn’t take notes here, sorry. I should also mention that I had a one-on-one tour and that my guide spent over an hour explaining everything to me, which was amazing. And also that this mill is super-interesting in general and I would highly recommend it. But anyway, I do remember that Alexander Sutherland designed the lathe to be installed on an angle and fitted it with rollers so that gravity would return the wood, which seems to be a good idea. He also had a variety of removable knives that could be used on the planar so that more exact specifications.

The second floor workshop was where most of the finished products were made – the carriage wheels, rocking horses, bathtubs, gingerbread trim, etc. The mill produced every imaginable wood product but specialized in wooden gingerbread trim, toys, and carriage wheels. The second floor also had a kiln floor which was situated over the boiler which would dry the green wood before it was shaped.

Built in 1895, it is one the city’s oldest buildings. Pudu Jail’s infamy was cemented with the execution of Botak Chin. In Malay, “Botak” means “Bald” and the mandatory death sentence is “Hukum gantung sampai manti”. Pudu Jail broke the record for having the longest painted mural in the world. Before closing its doors about a hundred ravers partied there with glowsticks and ghost stories.

Unfortunately mega corporations have torn down a piece of history to make way for condos, malls and highways. It’s hard to fathom that the prison was not preserved as a heritage site.

The Balmoral Grist Mill was a treat. I love old mills and was eager to visit this one but I was really excited when I arrived and found out it wasn’t a corn mill but rather a mill for oats and wheat. My first! Cornmeal is relatively simple to make in a gristmill – shelled kernels are fed into the square wooden hopper and funneled through the hole in the runner stone. As the runner stone turns over the stationary bed stone, the corn is then ground between it and the bed stone. But wheat and oats have additional processes that were entirely new for me. Oats start by being spread and dried on a kiln floor, heated from below by a wood-burning furnace.

The dried oats are swept through an opening in the floor where they are collected in sacks in the basement and then hoisted up via pulley system to the second floor. Here they are dumped into a hopper or trough that streams them into a shaker which in turn feeds the oats between two grindstones. This first grinding process only removes shells the oats using softer sandstone, then letting them fall through back into the basement. Next, a grain elevator moves the oats back up to the second floor feeding them into a second hopper which allows them to fall back to the first floor and into the hopper that lies on top of a pair granite millstones, which grinds them into oatmeal. Finally, the oats are moved once more via another grain elevator to just below the ceiling where they are deposited in another shaker that separates the oatmeal from finer siftings.

Red shaker at left that separates final product in oatmeal production; pair of grindstones can be seen behind the shaker and to the right, Balmoral Grist Mill, Nova Scotia, Canada

Wheat flour production begins by emptying sacks of the grain into a ground floor hopper from where its moved via elevator to the second floor and deposited in a shaker. The shaker feeds the wheat into a “cleaner” which separates the wheat from foreign material; the shaker itself helps this process by separating the raw material by density though the sieving and screening done in the cleaner is more thorough. As the grain passes through the cleaner it falls down to the first floor and is channeled to between the grindstones; for wheat, French Buhrr grindstones are preferred as it allows for finer ground wheat. After being ground into flour, the wheat is moved via elevator into a horizontally-oriented spinning dressing cylinder that forces the product over screens of differing sizes, separating the finer flour from the courser. The large bran is collected as it passes through to the end of the drum.

The basic power mechanisms are very similar in all gristmills, whether they grind corn, oat, or wheat though Balmoral was powered by turbine rather than the traditional waterwheel. The dammed waterway creates a mill pond which can be released using sluicegates to power the wheel or turbine. The wheel or turbine turns a shaft which in the case of Balmoral, spins the huge spur wheel in the basement that, through a series of vertical drive shafts and leather belts, rotates the runner stones and powers the grain elevators. Its an ingenious low-tech system that I find incredible interesting.

“Little is recorded of the history of the church. But of what little is known, we get the glimpse of the missionary spirit at the turn of the century which led to the building of the Holy Rosary Church, and the growth of the church in keeping with the development of Kuala Lumpur.

But more than the physical growth of the church building, the Holy Rosary Church grew in spirit, in the number of people who accepted God through the Catholic faith.

The Holy Rosary Church with its very pretty Gothic architecture was constructed by Father Francis Emile Terrien, a French missionary.

In 1903 Father Terrien was in charge of the Catholic Chinese community in Kuala Lumpur with the special mission of building a new church. He was assisted by Father Lambert.

To quote from an annual report written by Bishop Fee of the churches in Malaysia and Singapore in 1903: ‘During the Lenten season I sent Father Lambert as assistant of Father Terrien to be together in charge of Kajang and the Chinese of Kuala Lumpur, a week after Fr. Terrien came to see me to tell me that the land next to the HIJ Convent (now the Telekom building at Brickfields Road) is for sale. We borrowed some money to put the first deposit. The parish of St. John contributed for one-third of the total and Fr. Terrier got the balance from the Chinese community. On 31st July the land was paid, the loan reimbursed and the plan for a new church prepared.

Father Lambert and Father Terrien’s assistant drew up the plan and work went or non-stop for 18 months. Fr. Vignol, an administrator in the Catholic Churches of Malaysia wrote in his annual report: ‘Across the town of Kuala Lumpur near the railway station we can see a building going up and two gentlemen working to prepare the fines’ decorations of their church. There is Fr. Terrien and Lambert. How are they going with such work ? This is the question of everybody. But the good Lord has blessed ‘their work and within a few months a new bishop, Mgr. Barillon, will bless the most beautiful of the churches of the diocese.

In November, 1904 the church was completed and it was blessed on Dec 18. Bishop Barillon. The church building was different from the present building. The roof of the Church was flat and the wings were not added till 1950. An older parishioner remembers that on the flat roof we usually put a 5 star paper and a bamboo contraption during Christmas with an oil lamp. There was no electricity then.’ The parsonage was an attap building and the belfry where the bell was placed was on the ground on the left side the church.

Fr. Temen remained with the church till 1914. He was succeeded by Pr. E. Brossard who died in office in 1928 and was followed by a succession of priests. During the Japanese Occupation Father Girard was parish priest. Most parishioners of that time will remember him and his courage for he stayed on during those difficult times.

In 1950 the church was extended by Father Moses Koh. Whilst the church was being renovated, a temporary attap building and altar was erected on the present kindergarten playground behind the church. The wings were built and it was during this extension that the church obtained its existing building.

The renovations were completed in 1951 and blessed by Archbishop Olcomendy on Dec 7th 1951.”

– http://www.rc.net/kualalumpur/holyrosary/history_files/history.html

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Sun, 14 Dec 2014 22:28:15 +0000Natalia Makshttps://nataliamaks.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/china-wuzhen-7/Wuzhen is an old Water Town located on the banks of the Grand Canal. It’s just a couple of hours north from Shanghai. Locals with a help of government carefully restored and renovated this 13 century old beauty. They turned it into an interesting touristy place. The town is extremely busy during day time. I decided to get up at 5AM and stroll the cute streets while the town was just waking up.

The Town of Cass was founded in 1900 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company and settled by William Luke and his sons, who purchased over 70,000 acres of timber. Sam Slaymaker and Emory Shaffer supervised the building of the town, including the mill and the railroad. Cass was named for Joseph Cass, who was the vice-president and company investor.

Shay Engine in Front of Company Store

Just like the company houses, all the buildings in the commercial district of Cass were painted white. The focal point of this area was the company store. Three stories high, the first floor today is used as a gift shop. Loaded with souvenirs of all kinds, including post cards and homemade items, the company store was a center of activity. Here, I purchased a yellow leaf paperweight made from West Virginia Glass. The other two stories were closed to the public.

The Jailhouse

Other buildings in the town included a church, city hall/jail and a post office. City hall was a small white building with a brick basement. On the outside of the basement, a black iron door with a barred window separated prisoners in the tiny cell from the outside world. Back then, it was mostly drunken brawls that landed one in jail.

Door to the Jail Cell

Jailhouse and Church (around the corner)

Fascinated as I was with sleeping and shopping in a town that had such atmosphere, the main attraction of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park was the Shay engine train. So, after purchasing a boxed lunch from the company store, we headed down a small hill to the train depot and purchased tickets for our ride.

Since the train wasn’t scheduled to leave for a few hours, we passed the time by joining a tour group and viewing what remained of the old logging mill. Not much is left of the mill today. However, before the mill was closed in 1960, the cut logs were hauled down Back Allegheny Mountain on one of the Shay engine trains. They were then processed at this mill for use by paper and hardwood-flooring companies.

The Wright Brothers’ Letter

In keeping with the historical romance of the logging town, we discovered that Orville and Wilbur Wright had written a letter to the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company requesting their finest grades of spruce for use in constructing flying machines. Later we obtained a copy of that letter.

Cass Shop on the Left; Train on the Right

We continued to listen as our knowledgeable guide explained the ins and outs of train life during the height of the logging era. Our tour ended at the Cass Shop, a locomotive repair shop, where two Shay engines were in the process of being repaired.